The Fruit of Joy

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…joy”—Galatians 5:22

Joy. We all want joy. Each of us seeks for it. But what is it? It is a deep feeling of pleasure or satisfaction. And for the believer, joy comes from knowing and being connected to Christ. It is the spontaneous, emotional response of the heart. It cannot be manufactured or fabricated. It doesn’t come from the flesh, but only from being regenerated by the Spirit of God. What does that mean? It means that God transformed us—He saved us, gave us a new heart, and placed His Spirit within us. He gave us new life, forgave our sins, and wiped our pasts clean.

But how can we cultivate joy? Jesus gave us a description in John 15, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full”—John 15:10-11.

His joy may be in us and our joy may be full. It’s because we have come to know Christ that we have this joy. And we continue in joy by obeying His commands. Our joy is not our own, but a shared joy that has come as the result of what Christ did on the cross. Consider Hebrews 12:2, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

He endured the cross for the joy set before Him and what was that joy? It was the promise of a future reward, which would be seen in our being in heaven with Him! It is His joy to have an eternal relationship with us, and it is our joy to be in heaven forever with Him! Which is why the apostle Peter wrote, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory”—1 Peter 1:8. He knew that we could have joy now, but the ultimate completion of our joy would be seen in eternity when we unite with Him whom our soul loves. Like a bride waiting for her groom to appear, our joy would be inexpressible! Or as the great old hymn “Joy Unspeakable” went,

“It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.”

If we are citizens of God’s kingdom, we will be joyful. As Paul wrote in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We will be joyful!

May God enable us to be joyful! May He grant us understanding in knowing Him and making Him known! May we truly be reminded afresh what its like to have our sins forgiven and our future secure! Nothing can take that away from us! Amen.